Cape Town to Tanzania 2014-2015
Solo trip for 11 months - Toyota Hiace 4x4 van

Chimanimani National Park

August 6, 2014  —  Zimbabwe

The Chimanimani Park is a small paradise for hiking. I spent a few days visiting several locations of the park such as waterfalls. It is also possible to go hiking for a few days and to sleep in a mountain hut at an altitude of 1700 metres. As for me, I did a two days trek and I thus slept one night in the hut.

Chimanimani to Cashel road - Zimbabwe
The Chimanimani Mountains in the background.
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Hiking in the Chimanimani Mountains

Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe

The first day of the hike, the scenery was a bit strange. Due to recent fires, the vegetation consisted only in small new plants growing through a blackened land. Despite that, the landscape was quite nice.

Each of the two days was a walk of about 16 km through a nice environment.

Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe
A small but cold river to cross barefoot.
Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe
Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe
Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe
A curious yellow stream is flowing from the mountain.
Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe
Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe
Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe

Here is the mountain hut, not bad right?

I had the mountain hut all by myself.

Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe
My camp for the night.
Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe
Small break in front of the hut.
Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe
Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe
Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe
Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe
Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe
The trail is visible in the middle of the photo.
Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe
Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe
Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe
Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe
I have reached the Skeleton Pass at the border of Zimbabwe and Mozambique. On the above picture, there is a view of the Zimbabwean side. On the phot below, I am looking to the Mozambican side. The Skeleton Pass was used by the guerilla to cross the border between the two countries.
Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe
Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe
In the background, Mount Binga with its 2437 metres, is the highest point in the Chimanimani Mountains.
Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe
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Bridal Veil Fall

In addition to the nice trek I have done in these mountains, there are other sites inside the park that are worth seeing. It is possible to camp at the base of this magnificent waterfall.

Bridal Veil Falls - Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe
Bridal Veil Falls - Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe
Bridal Veil Falls - Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe
Bridal Veil Falls - Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe
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Tessa's Pool

Tessa's pool - Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe

Another splendid fall with a nice pool at its base. In Zimbabwe, at this time of the year, it is winter and it is unfortunately too cold to go for a swim in those waters.

Tessa's pool - Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe
Tessa's pool - Chimanimani National Park - Zimbabwe